Former New Underwood residents recovering from Oregon fire

Former New Underwood residents Steve and Tori Iske lost their home in Canyon City, Ore., when the Canyon City Complex wildfire consumed the canyon in which the Iske’s live.

Prior to their move to Oregon, Steve was employed on a New Underwood area ranch and Tori was the postmaster of the New Underwood Post Office. The downsizing of the local post office caused Tori to look for work elsewhere. In 2012, she was employed as the postmaster of the John Day Post Office. Steve arranged for the dispersion of the couple’s cattle, then joined Tori in 2013.

The Iskes made their new home outside of Canyon City, which is located in the Malheur National Forest, near the Strawberry Wild-erness in eastern Oregon. This area was once home to a thriving logging industry, though in recent years misguided environmentalism has caused much of that to be shut down, resulting in economic hardship for some people in the area, Tori said.

On Wednesday, Aug. 12, lightning caused two different fires to start in the area near the Iske’s home. According to local news sources, the Mason Springs fire started south of Canyon City, east of Highway 395, in fairly flat and open terrain. The Berry Creek fire was in a steep and rocky area of the Strawberry Wilderness to the southwest of Canyon City.

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